Just Like Us, Part Two

Members of Congress are just like us: They brag on their kids.

When Sen.-elect Scott Brown, R-Mass., paid a 10-minute courtesy call this morning to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, one of the topics was the athletic achievements of their children, according to a pool reporter and aides who were in the room.

Reid's youngest son, Key, was a star midfielder on the University of Virginia soccer team in the mid-'90s. Brown's daughter Ayla plays basketball at Boston College.

Reid told Brown of an occasion when he canceled a meeting with the Spanish ambassador in order to make it to one of Key's games, according to Reid aides.

"He and I spent a little bit of time talking about the prowess of our athletic children," Reid told a few reporters and photographers who were allowed into the room briefly.

According to Kathleen Hunter of Congressional Quarterly, who was the pool reporter, Reid joked that he'd read a news report this morning that Brown's election would make his job as majority leader easier.

"I hope that's the case," Reid said, prompting laughter from Brown and aides in the room.

"Well, we're going to have an interesting time this year," Reid told Brown. "You're going to enter the Senate at a time when the country is in deep trouble -- as you know, that was a lot what your campaign was about -- and I look forward to working with you."

The media were ushered out as Reid and Brown walked into Reid's inner office for what aides said was a further private discussion. They took no questions.